Lower Rufiji river flood mitigation study (Ikwiriri area case study).

The lower Rufiji flood plain is a vast area with about 80,000 ha. of fertile land but suffering from frequent food damage and famine as a result of persistent flood and non effective utilisation of available natural reliefs such as the existing lakes to the best advantage for flood irrigation and agricultural development. This research work examines the importance of the area to the agricultural and the economic development of Tanzania, ways of mitigating f1ood and the use of the flood water for agricultural development at the Ikwiriri area taking advantage of the Ruwe lake by the construction of a gated weir across the Mbunju river which link the lake to the Rufiji river and also carrying out the construction of a flood control embankment along the Mbunju river to contain the flood water. Similarly, this research work reveals the possibility of a total control of the Rufiji river by its diversion through the Ruhoi river, few kilometers away, into the India Ocean. This is of course, subject to detail feasibility study.